New Delhi: To raise awareness on protecting the environment and to reduce the burden of plastic pollution on natural places, wildlife and on health, the United Nations (UN) has designated June 5 as World Environment Day. This year’s theme is to ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, which is a call to action for all of us to come together to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time – plastic pollution. India is the global host for World Environment Day this year, and is urging people to come forward and shun the use of single-use or disposable plastics, which pose a great danger to both human and marine life. With the message of #BeatPlasticPollution, celebrities, sports personalities, ministers and politicians are urging people to come together and work for a cleaner and greener environment, and explore sustainable alternatives to plastic.

Also, a wide range of programmes, host of activities and massive citizen participation are marking the 45th World Environment Day celebrations in India

Here’s are the top highlights from the World Environment Day celebrations in India, the host country

“Together, let us ensure that our future generations live in a clean and green planet, in harmony with nature”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the World Environment.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media and shared a video focusing on how development and environment can coexist together. He said, “This year’s theme is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. I appeal to you that keeping in mind the value and importance of the theme, we all should ensure that we don’t use polythene and low grade plastic.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi planted a sapling at his official residence 7, Race Course Road on World Environment Day

Minister of Railways and Coal, Piyush Goyal tweeted about the initiative taken by Indian Railways to contribute towards a greener planet on World Environment Day. Taking a small step to beat plastic pollution, the Indian Railways has started using fully biodegradable packages for serving breakfast and other meals in 4 Shatabadi and 4 Rajadhani trains from Delhi.

Crickter Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir tweeted their messages on World Environment Day. Worried with Shimla water crisis and everyone’s careless attitude towards the environment, Cricketer Gautam Gambhir said, “I think instead of #WorldEnvironmentDay let’s rename it as #WorldSurvivalDay. May be then we’ll realise we are on the brink of our carelessness & greed-infused disasters. Just look at water crisis in Shimla.” While Rohit Sharma urged people to make ‘looking after our environment’ a part of their daily routine.

Even the corporates came forward and extended their support to beat plastic pollution. ONGC pledged to eliminate single use plastic across its offices by 2020 and make it into paperless by 2019, while Hindustan Unilever pledged to make all plastic packaging to be reusable recyclable or compostable by 2025. Furthermore, the consumer good corporation Procter & Gamble announced that all global leadership brands will have packaging which is reusable and recyclable by 2030. The company will also initiate global diaper and sanitary napkin recycling programmes in 10 global cities, and India will be one of the first countries where programme will be launhced.